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Welcome to the archives. 2013-2020. 2,200+ articles from 300+ writers.

What is Ms. In The Biz?

Founded in 2013 by actor/writer/producer Helenna Santos with active publication until spring of 2020, Ms. In The Biz is the go-to resource for female entrepreneurs in the entertainment industry, focusing on creating career success while living a purpose-filled, passionate life.

With a readership of half a million people all over the globe, the 2,200+ archived articles from 300+ female (and female identifying) writers available at msinthebiz.com .

She is the Founder of “Ms. In The Biz” and can often be found on panels at conventions such as San Diego “Comic-Con,” and has been interviewed by major press outlets including CNN.

She can be seen most recently in CW’s “The Flash,” ABC’s “A Million Little Things” and “The Good Doctor”, as well as the independent feature films “At Your Own Risk” and “The Shasta Triangle”. She will also be seen in the upcoming “Baby-Sitter’s Club” for Netflix.

Her work as a contributing writer has been featured in MovieMaker Magazine, Backstage Magazine, IndieWire and BUST Magazine.

Laura Hunter Drago is a producer, writer, and actress living in Los Angeles, California. When she’s not making art, she works in marketing & web design. Laura is a proud SAG-AFTRA member and guest speaker at the SAG Conservatory, is the assistant editor-in-chief of Ms. in the Biz, and is the co-founder of New Girl Pictures. She also likes baking, obsessing over Olympic ice dancers, and having long conversations with her dog Buffy. She dislikes being bored. Most recently, Laura is finishing up post-production on her first feature, To The New Girl.

Leah Cevoli is a multi-talented entertainment professional whose work stretches across many genres. She is a rock ‘n roll enthusiast, body image activist, a certified yoga teacher, and fan of all things horror, Leah’s acting credits include appearances on high profile tv shows like HBO’s “Deadwood,” and voice-over on the Cartoon Network hit “Robot Chicken”. Leah is a contributing writer for Ms. In The Biz and the founder of AllShapesAndSizesWelcome.com: Body Image & Women’s Issues in Entertainment, a group of women who speak on panels and at conventions nationwide.

Leah has a reputation for crowdfunding success and social media magic. To date, her company, GreenlightYourPassionProject.com has managed 50+ campaigns, and have been instrumental in raising over $5,000,000 for indie projects.

Her latest projects include: the feature-length documentary “Remember The Sultana” narrated by Sean Astin, the gritty feature-length drama, “Girl Lost,” distributed thru Cinema Epoch, and the light hearted comedy, “Dance Baby Dance”. All three films were released in the spring of 2018.

Alexandra is an award-winning filmmaker. MirrorTree Productions, has produced numerous feature films, including “Home Sweet Home” and “At Your Own Risk”. Her company Mustard Seed Entertainment’s film “Catching Faith” had a two year run on Netflix and was on the shelves of Wal-Mart. Her most recent film “Wish For Christmas” sold to Pure Flix Entertainment and Universal Studios Home Entertainment.

Alexandra’s script “Switched” was awarded the winner of the Kiaros Pro MovieGuide award for best screenplay. She is the author of “Create Your Own Career in Hollywood: Advice from a struggling actress who became a successful producer” available in Kindle and print on Amazon, and is an active member of Woman in Film Los Angeles where she served on the WIF PSA Board. Alexandra co-collaborated on the book “Thriving in Hollywood!” for msinthebiz.com

Deborah Lee Smith is an actress and producer whose love of performing, storytelling, and new experiences has led to filming projects around the world. Originally from LA, she studied Theater and English Lit at UC Berkeley before moving to Australia to pursue her master’s degree in Film Production. She started acting in the Australian film industry before returning to LA and diving head first into acting and discovered a love of producing.

At the time of this book’s publication, she has two films in post-production that she has starred in, and has received several awards for her acting and producing work. Additionally, she has partnered with another incredible female producer to create Deep Sea Pictures, a full-service production company that has several projects in various stages of development. She believes in working hard, playing hard, exploring the world, and supporting others to tell stories that expand our understanding of the world and the people, places, and things that reside within it!

2013 – 2017 PAST ADMIN TEAM MEMBERS:

Julie Wilson is a digital marketer with an intense passion for live music. As a teenager she collected every issue of Rolling Stone and listened to everything she could get her hands on. As an adult she goes to a lot of concerts because she feels there is nothing like the live music experience. Along with her love of music, she is also well versed in marketing and writing. Julie strongly believes in the healing power of the written word. Her own blog, Married In My Mind, helped her get through a roughtime in her life and connected her to a whole audience of women who experienced similar heartache. She worked for four years at Live Nation in their email marketing department and is now working freelance jobs in social media. In her spare time she enjoys taking and teaching yoga and hanging out with her corgi, Ein.

Leslie Foster is an LA-based filmmaker and a co-founder of Traveling Muse Pictures, a non-profit film collective, which is currently in post-production for a documentary about violent homophobia in Jamaica. He is also completing “The Ritual Cycle,” an experimental film series, which will be displayed as part of a gallery installation piece. Leslie’s passion for activism, fine art, and philosophy informs his filmmaking.
He has worked for over seven years in the film industry, with over twenty credits to his name including his work co-producing the 2009 Crystal Heart award-winning short film “Marbles with Thoreau.” Having grown up and worked all around the world, he thinks of himself as an urban nomad and fantasizes about joining a roving band of vagabond artists.

“Actor. Creator. Nerd. Kaytra has no recollection of “catching” any acting bug… it was always there. At the ripe age of 3, she pointed to the television enthusiastically and declared, “I want to be IN THAT!”. After her parents jokingly reminded her she would have to be really small to fit in there, Kaytra skipped and tripped her way through adolescence until she landed a coveted spot at the Orange County High School of the Arts (OCSA). There she spent 4 years studying everything from stage combat to documentary filmmaking amongst a wide variety of young artists. Besides nerding out about way too many things, Kaytra spends her free time Netflixing, reading, and obsessing about space. Kaytra hopes to combine her love of acting, filmmaking and activism to evoke positive change both individually and globally.”

Producer, actress, writer, director, curve model & body image advocate. Originally from North Carolina, Dellany attended New York City conservatory American Musical Dramatic Academy; her debut on Broadway was with TheatreWorks USA (winner of 2001 Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation Award) right before embarking on the national tour. Dellany worked on independent films in N.C., co-starred in award winning Bailey and did featured/stand in work for Molly Shannon in Talledega Nights. Now residing in Los Angeles, Dellany is currently in pre-production for several new web to TV series under the tent of her new production company Scarlett Gale Media. Dellany provided voice acting in “Pink & Blue” starring Levar Burton and Darryl Hannah. Dellany is a series regular on web talk show Go Curvy and was named Curvy Couture’s Miss December 2014. Dellany’s first produced web series was award winning comedy 2 Hopeful Spinsters featuring Michael Madsen.

She has written/co-created and is currently co-executive producing a digital series called Incredible Girl, based on the short film of the same name by Executive Producer, Celia Aurora de Blas. Her short story, December, was published in Issue #24 of the sci-fi literary journal, Crossed Genres. She is the writer of your future favorite TV show.

Sarah is an LA based Actress and Choreographer who firmly believes in the power of positivity. After earning a double degree in Theatre and Neuroscience (yes, you read that correctly!) and studying at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin, Ireland, she was in the midst of earning her Ph.D. in Genetics when she decided to follow her passion of being an actress- and she hasn’t looked back! Sarah spent several years working in Theatre, Film, Commercial, and VO in Seattle before relocating to LA, where she has added Acting Biz Consultations, Writing, and Producing to her repertoire. She also does 99-second speed-thrus of popular movies on her YouTube channel www.youtube.com/MsSarahJE/videos. Sarah loves traveling and staying active (hiking, rock climbing, and canyoneering are some of her favorites), reading, and enjoying a good mug of tea. For her latest news, visit www.sarahjeagen.com

2013 – 2014 Social Media Coordinator: Angelique Toschi

Angelique Toschi is a social media professional who is active in multiple social media communities. She uses her BA in English from UCLA and MA in Mass Communications, Advertising from Cal State Fullerton to help her create strategies and write social media content for various clients across multiple industries. Some of her current and former clients in the entertainment industry have included The International Academy of Web Television, web series “Lenox Avenue”, and Transmedia LA. She also currently handles social media and corporate communications for Shakey’s USA, Inc. (57 locations across the US).

2013 Associate Editor: Holly Elissa

Holly Elissa is a dedicated wanderer, storyteller, activist, mountaineer and social entrepreneur. As an artist, yogini and founder of the NGO Caleb’s Hope, the rights of women and children the world over have become the driving force of her life. Despite running a charity, she believes trade and investment – not aid – are the solution to seeing people from all walks of life rise up and live fulfilling, healthy, economically sustainable lives. Her company, Ethos, is a place where art and social enterprise collide to promote cross-cultural understanding and increased opportunity for everyone.

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or position of Ms. In The Biz Entertainment INC, its editor, writers, sponsors, or affiliates.